Our 8 yr old cannot swim without floating aids.

CathA

My sister could swim really early, but I never did learn at the same time, can't remember why. I never liked water splashing on my face or putting my face in the water, and still don't now. I had a few lessons with school but that didn't help,especially when the teacher said she wouldn't let me go and then she did!! I went to swimming pools in Australia, where everyone seems to swim from birth!! My sister and her friends would go in the 'big pool' and I would mess about in the kiddies pool. I had arm bands/rubber rings and used to potter about in there. (I was nearly 12 then, BTW) Anyway, one day I took the arm bands off, got into the big pool and swam a width (without putting my face under water, I hasten to add). Try not to make an issue of swimming without the float, she'll do it in her own time.

I was determined that my daughters were not going to be like me at swimming and started taking them very early. One trick I used was to put arm bands on and every now and then reduce the amount of air in it a tiny bit each time. All three are much better swimmers than me; in fact 2 of them are life guards!! Good luck

olgadapolga

My son is nearly ten years old. I despaired of him ever learning to swim. For the last few weeks he's had 1-2-1 lessons but again, progress has been very, very slow. I took him swimming last weekend and persuaded him to float on his back (without any floats) with me supporting his head and back. I then removed my hand from his back and then his head but kept my hands in the water below his head and back (he knew that I was going to do this) and within 15 minutes he was floating by himself. I was pretty well stunned as up until now he's refused point blank to try to float. At this week's lesson he refused all floats and just swam. It appeared that finally having the knowledge that he does indeed float has given him the confidence he needed to get himself across the pool unaided. The technique needs perfecting but he's now swimming.

I asked him about it and he said that he'd always worried that he would sink and end up swallowing water but now knows that he won't as he can float.

sazaccount

What type of floating aids is your LO using??

If they are arm bands could you change to using a kick board or a woggle (you can pick them up at poundland during the summer)

I was a swimming teacher (in my uni days) and specialized in the "starting to learn" area mainly because my qualification was only up until 10m, but I loved working with the new swimmers of all ages. With LO's that didn't like putting there heads under I found the squishy balls that when you throw give a big splash when they land, as well as the hoops/sticks that sink in a depth that was just out of reach without putting there heads under. I was a "mean" teacher and none of my kids (or adults) were allowed armbands in lessons as it gives a really bad swimming position.

Maybe you could just start with saying at the beginning of going swimming, ok for the last 5 minutes were going to play without the floating aid.

She will get there, there is a big difference between getting children into the pool and getting there confidence in the water.
xx